Plantation airfield, Long Binh 1970-71

[Wolfman]

I have the full first season of " Tour of Duty" on DVD.
Pilots doors.
Three things come to mind.
1- It was usually 90' to 100'F degrees and very humid. Like sitting in the back, where I was, The breeze felt good.
2- With the weapon fire going on, the cockpit would fill with smoke. No doors or open doors helped clear out the work space.
3- When the going got tough and you were going to have to walk home, once on the ground, you wanted out.
A hard ( hopefully that was all it was ) landing could distort the fuselage ( body ) and if you had doors shut, they might jam. You could not get out. This was real bad. So, just before ground contact, you either opened the doors or took them off to start with.

[wrenchguy]

I meant the pilot's doors; was there a specific reason for that?

If there's one thing I learned from watching 'Tour of Duty' as a kid it was that all Huey's in Vietnam had open back doors and speakers blaring 'Fortunate Son' all the time!

IMHO, Gun ship pilots visibility during close support, the door won't stop a round. This part of the country was hot weather too.

[Wolfman]

That is a good point, WG.
Had not considered visibility.
I am thinking, later on, maybe the pilot and co-pilot was sitting on an armor plate ???
Didn't do any good for the Pacs. ( Guys in the rear compartment )
And would not do any good for in-coming fire from the other directions. Like the bullet hole in the windscreen, in one of you pics.
Anybody that ever went out on an ACA knows how a Duck feels !!
The old myth about sitting on your helmet was exactly that as well. If you tried it, you only did it once.
1- A helmet will not stop a bullet. 2- it was like trying to sit on a bowling ball on a roller coaster. 3- it was super uncomfortable. If you did not have hemorrhoids before the ride, you would have after. 4- if you dropped the steel domed wonder, on approach to the landing zone, you would not be able to take a bath, ( not that we did anyway ), and get tagged with an Article 15 for loss or destruction of military property. That last one includes a GI that got hit in the head, after he was not wearing a steel pot he lost, and it might have saved him. Couldn't win.
Topic of the day. How many days you got left ??
Keep the pics coming.. I am enjoying them !

[wrenchguy]

bien hoa 70-71.

[Wolfman]

I have come to the conclusion, I would have been a whole happier where you were than where I was !!

[David]

Visibility is a very good point.

I have heard stories about pilots putting their '45's between their legs for protection of... well not the 45's

[Wolfman]

That is a new one.

Don't know if I would want to try that.
My luck, the weapon would go off and blow something else off. Two strikes, one shot.

[wrenchguy]

long bien 70-71.
no minis, tethered 60s i believe.


compressor failure


night crew.


"plantation final", i think this slide got reversed, stuff on the right should be on the left, etc. Prolly never know.


hotend inspection.


This is the last 1 i got for u guys, couple hundred more of friends, personal and hooch area. Thanks 4 looking.

[Wolfman]

More great photos.
Even if you got back to check out the lay of the land, in the suspect reversed pic, I seriously doubt it looks like that now.
I happened across a Special Forces type, that was in Camp Radcliff at An Khe, 2 or 3 years after the 4th Inf. Div. left and he said the place was trashed. The locals had stripped everything they could haul off.
Sad. When we left the camp was a fully functional city.
Hope you meant the reversed plantation picture was taken on final approach and not the final picture.
I have enjoyed the photos and hope your are not finished.

[wrenchguy]

More great photos.
Even if you got back to check out the lay of the land, in the suspect reversed pic, I seriously doubt it looks like that now.
I happened across a Special Forces type, that was in Camp Radcliff at An Khe, 2 or 3 years after the 4th Inf. Div. left and he said the place was trashed. The locals had stripped everything they could haul off.
Sad. When we left the camp was a fully functional city.
Hope you meant the reversed plantation picture was taken on final approach and not the final picture.
I have enjoyed the photos and hope your are not finished.

Aircraft calling location "plantation final", "approach" not transmitted. I member hearing this alot as maintenance AO monitored tower.
I bet pilots flying there every day would correct that final photo if needed. i rarely flew, maybe 1 test ride a month.

Yes, this is all i got for posting, the rest are personal.

[artificer]

Bien Hoa 70-71.

The red Kangaroo on this Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, is indicative of an Australian military pilot

[warbrds]

Hi
Actually an O-2
The O-1 is a single engine tail dragger.
Have a fair amount of time in both models

[Wolfman]

Good eye on the kangaroo, John. I had not noticed that one.
Got a little time in a Cessna Sky Master myself. Civilian version of the O-2. With the engines on the same thrust line, single engine operation was a whole lot easier. Did not have the " yaw" on one engine that normal twins have. Would still fly on one engine. About like handling a " Doggie 172 ". Always started the rear engine first. Could not hear what was going on back there on start up, with the front engine running.
Makes sense, WG. Report the airfield and being on the " final leg " of an approach. Normal protocol.
I was more concerned about being the end of the slide show. Which I guess it is.
Thanks for sharing !!
I have enjoyed it.
Mike

[warbrds]

Hi
I always taught sudents to bring up power on the rear engine first. So many did not realize when number 2 was down to idle... Not good. The 337 was not a bad airplane, but as you said, a dog with only one turning.
I have the G Meter out of a,n O-2 a friend owned. I do like the windows on the door and the lower kick panel.
The Birddog was fun, before the change, with 60 degrees of flaps you could make some awful short landings.
Fun to fly.

[artificer]

May be of interest....
https://www.awm.gov.au/about/our-work/p ... teedreborn
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/birddog.htm
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F02719/